Shoe-coating machine



H I R. WESTOVER.

SHOE COATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25. 191s.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

' @2f/Q41@ TTC R N EY H. R. WESOVER.

- SHOE COMING MACHINE. APPLflc/Tlon man sm. 25. 191s:

H. B. WESTOVER.

SHOE COATING MACHINE.

APPLlcmoN FILED SEPT. 25. 19m.

evENToR N'TNS efbef/R. Was/01@ j-@Lkl WM 'BYMVM ATTORNEY A UNITED S'IMjiis `iiix'vrrf:NT oFFlcl-i.

" HERBERT R. WEsTovER, or AMESBURY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASsIeNoRV To HAMEL SIIoE MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS.

SHCE-COATING MACHINE. j

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

Application filed September 25, 1918. Serial No. 255,668.

i To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, HERBERT R. WEsTovER,

a citizen of the-United States, residing at Amesbury, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Coating Machines,of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings. j

This invention relates to shoe machines and more 'specifically to machines for applying a fluid such as coloring ink or cement to the surface of shoe soles,

In the manufacture of turn and McKay shoes'it is customary to treat the outersole preparatory toattaching the same to the uppeibyv applyingblacliing or color to the upper or flesh surface-of the sole adjacent Y theouter edge thereof, as itis difficult in these types of shoe to color this edge, which projects beyond the upper, after the attachment of the upper to the same, owing to the narrowness of the crease between the edge of the soleA and the upper. This operation is usually lperformed by hand, the loperator using for this purpose a brushf-commonly an ordinary tooth brush,`which he dips into a pan of ink and then applies by a continuous motion to the surface'of the sole adjacent the edge and following the vcontour of the same. rThis mode of applying the'color necessarily consumes a considerable amount of time, as the operator is obliged to move his `brush along the edge of theY sole throughout its entire extent. f

The present invention comprises `mechanism adapted to apply fluid to the surface of a shoe sole simultaneously along itsv opposite lateral edges, thus securing afhigh speedv of operation, said mechanism including a pair ofY independent, oppositely disposed fiuid-applying devices arranged to move toward and away` fromA each other in` following' the contour of the sole, but to 'move into close proximity to each other whereby to form in effect a single centrally disposed huid-applying device in operating upon the heel and toe portions of the sole.

Y The invention further consists in the provision of means for so guiding the fluid-applying devices that they are caused to closely follow the contour of the solev edge, thereby insuring application of the fluid throughoutv the extent ofthe edge while avoiding daubing of the other parts of the sole.

h'lfheinvention consists further in the provision of feeding means for moving the soles relatively to the fluid-applying devices.

drive mechanism whereby the various opera- A tive elements are moved at suitable relative velocities, and whereby the fluid-applying devices are, permitted to move lfreely in following the sole edge, such mechanism comprising a shaft having a collapsible section permitting variations in the effective length of such shaft.

Other and additional objects and advantages together with improved combinations of parts and details of construction will be hereinafter pointed out and distinctlyv claimed, reference being had to the annexed drawings fora complete disclosure ofa preferred form of the invention and in which- Figure l is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the axes of-shafts .upon which are mounted pulleys 17, 18, Fig. 1; y

Fig. 3 is a central vertical transverse section to larger. scale taken at `the normal plane oflcontact of brushes 89, 90 (Fig. 1)

Figs. 4.-, 5` and 6 are a series of diagrammatie views illustrating the operation of the machine.

1 indicates the main frame of the machine which` is supported upon legs 2, the lower portions -of which .may be provided with outstanding flanges 3, if desired, whereby the same may be secured to the floor or other suitable support. 4, 4 indicate bars connecting the forward and rear le s yofthe Apulley 7 of lordinary form and between saidV pulley and the member 5a is fixed a grooved pulley 8 of relatively small diameter. Upon the opposite extremity of the shaft is lfixed Va vgrooved pulleyv 9 similar to the pulley 8.

Fixed tothe shaft 6 lbetween the members 5, a, and spaced apart from each other, are grooved pulleys 10 and 11, said pulleys be` ing of larger diameter thanpulleys 8 Vand 9.

as compa-red to that of the pulleys 10 and 11'. Belts19, 2O connect the respective pairs "Vof'pulleys 8, 17,-9, 13, whereby the shafts 15, 16 mayA be continuously driven in the same direction upon rotationof shaft 6. Fixed upontlie forward portion of the up- `per surface of frame 1 and upstaiidiiig therefrom are a pair of brackets 21 secured to said frame in any suitable manner. These brackets at their upper portions are bifurcated to form spaced guide members 214, 21h, be-

tween which are slidably mounted pairs of blocks'22, 22,--23, 23, said blocks being vprovided witli journal openings Yin which are mounted a pair of feed rolls 24, 25. The up- Y perfroll 24 projects through bearing block k22 yat its left hand extremity, as viewed by j theoperator, and has fixed upon it, outside olf-' said bearing, a groovedV pulley 26 hav-ing f A drivin@v connection by means ,of an open belt 28wit `the pulley 10 onshaftv 6. Theiroll V v25 extends beyond its right hand bearing in block 23 and` has fixed thereon outside said block, a grooved pulley 27, this pulley being connected by means of a crossed belt 29 with the pulleyll on the shaft 6. By the above described arrangement ofbelts, it'will be seen that the rolls 24,25 are rotatedin Vopposite directions. The blocks 23, when 'in posigtion, rest upon cross bars 30 of the brack- Aets 1.

Extending yupwardly Vfrom the blocks 22 are rods 31 which passthrough openings in 'cross ,bars 32 connecting theupper portions v21, 21b of the brackets 21, said rods 31 hav- 55 l ing Vnuts 33 screw-threaded upon their upper extremities,- spi'ings 34 being interposed betweeirthe "upper surfaces of said blocks 22 and the under surfaces of cross p bars 32, this arrangement of parts permitting the upper roll 24V to ,move away Vfrom roll 23 against the tension of the spring 34 to accommodate soles of varying thickness.'

35 are lugs projecting forwardly from the brackets 21 and serving tosupport a work .table 36,7upon the upper surface of which are provided Y guide members 37, V38. These 'guide members convergein Asuch a manner as Vto direct a slioevsole to the center part ofthe i "l i roiis 24, 25'wli'eii such sole is moved toward said rolls by the hand of the operator.

fiojec'tino'v rearwardly from the respective brackets 21 are a pair of lugs 39 which scrveto support a second work table 40 located in the rear of the rolls 24, 25.` 41 are vpins projecting upwardly from said work table 49 at its corners and serving toguide a `work hold-down plate 42;, the latter having openingstherein adapted to take-over the rods 41 whereby plate 42is guided for vertical movement relatively to* tablev 40. The pins41 are screw-threaded at their upper extremities for the reception of thumbv nuts 43, and locatedbetween said nuts and the upper surface of the plate 42 are coiled springs 44. lf desired, washers may be placed upon the pins'41vand interposed between tlieplates40 and 42 to hold said plates in normally spaced relation.

Fixed to the upper portions of the brack- Vets 13, 14 are standards 45, 46, said stand# ards being provided with `substantially flat upper surfaces, over ,wliiclrswingbracket members 49, 59said members being pivotcd to the standards 45,46 as by means' of bolts 47,46. The upper surfaces of the standards 45, 46 are provided with pairs of upstanding stop members 51, 52,-53, 54, re-

spectively, these members serving to limitV the swinging movementof the'brackets 49, 50.Y 55, V56 are supports mountedupon the upper surface of thepmain frame V1 and pro# riding substantially*horizontal supporting elements?, 58, underlying the brackets 49..

59 andservingv to guide the sameA in ,their swinging movements. Y"lhefsupports 55, 56

are also provided'with forwardly extending lingers 102, 103, tol which are connected coiled springs 49, 50a, the otherextremities of which are Vsuitably connected to the respective brackets 49, 50, said springs serving normally toresiliently hold said brackets 49, against the stopmembers 51, 53, respectively. v

`Brackets 49, 50 are V,provided with pairs of downwardly. extending legs 59, 60,.61, 62, respectively, said'legs'providing at their Vlower; extremities alined bearing o eninvs in which are mountedshafts 63,- 64,'tliese shafts being adapted to rotate and'` also Vto slide axially in said bearings. The legs 59, 60 61, 62 are also provided Awith openings in which' are slidablyl arranged rods 65, 66.

parallel to the shafts 63, 64, these rods where they pass through the legs 69,62, respectively, being squared to .prevent rotation'of said rods about their own axes,

springs 69, being interposed betweenY said squared portions of the rodsand the adjacent surfaces of they legs 59,61. It will be noted that by this Aarrangement of partsV 1,see,441

' the rods 65,- 66 tend to sli-de toward one anment imparted to the rods 65, 66 will be transmitted tothe shafts 463,Y 64, which will thereby be caused to slide axially in. their bearings. y f v 96, 99 are pins upstanding from the mem.-

bers Z1-of therrods 65, 66 and having connected thereto one endv of chains, 100,101,

' respectively, the other` Aendsof'said chains being connected to the fingers 102, 10.3y extending Vfrom supports 55, 56, respectively.

., As will be noted the length of the chains 100 and 101 -is lless than the distance between thepoint of connectionofsaid chains to therods 65, 66, and the pivot members v47,

48 of brackets 49, 50.

78, 79 indicate universaljoints of ordinaryA construction having the driving'elements thereof connected respectively to the inner extremlties'of shafts 15 and 16. 80, Si. indicate .generally a pair `of collapsible .u and extensible connector devices interposed in he driving connections Vfor shafts 63, 64, said 'connector Vdevices each comprising disks 62, 83 fixedrespectively upon the ends of saidshafts 63, 64v and to the driven elements of the universal joints 7 8, 7 9. Hing! edl connected-'to each of the disks 82 83 `is va'seris of link members 64, 85, in the present embodiment there being Y four of such links connected to'each of the collars and spaced equally about the peripheries of the same. rlhe respective links of the .two series form complemental pairs whose free extremities are plvotally connected together at 86. This arrangement vof parts serves to latter in a horizontal plane.

transmit the rotary motion of the shafts 15,

16 to the shafts 63, 64, respectively, While at y the same time permitting longitudinal slidingT movement ofthe shafts 63, 64'in'the1r bearings the universal oint connections bei `twee'nsaid shafts 1516`and-shafts 63, 64 of theY also permitting swinging movement l-pon the adjacent extremities of shafts 63,64 arefixed flangesr87, 88 serving to support a pair of fluid-applying brushes 89, 90 which may be secured to said 'flanges in any suitable manner. In the normal position of the parts as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will bev seen that the V.peripheral surfaces of said Y brushes `which are of the same diameter,

Vcover closing the rear portion of the same,

and thereby preventing the accidental dropping `of shoe soles into the liquid contained therein. As will be clearly seen from inspection of Figs. 2 and '3, the lower portion of the brushes dip into the fluid contained in said reservoir, and as such brushes are rotated they take up fluid Vfrom the reservoir and transmit it to the surface of a shoe sole when the latter isplaced in contact with said brushes.

V94, 95 are upstanding brackets secured to the upper surface ofthe frame 1 and providing forwardlyl extending, overhanging portions 9,6,having downwardly beveled forward extremities 97, said beveled eXtremities serving to direct the sole of a Shoe in a downward direction after the latter has passed the brushes, whereby such sole is prevented from being projected forcibly :from the machine by the action of the feed rolls, but-is caused. to drop downwardly toward the shield 93.

The operation of the machine is substantially as follows reference being had to Figs.

. relatively high speed. Upon engagement by the `feed-rolls, the sole is moved rapidly rearward toward the brush wheels 89, 90, passing between the plates 40, 42, the latter of which rises against the action of springs 44 to permit the passage of the sole beneath the same, theplate 42, however, serving to hold the sole downwardly and in position for substantially tangential contact with the upper portion of the brushes.

As the advancing end Yof the sole comes in contact withgthe brushes, which at this time are closel adfacent one another and form in effect a unitary brush, fluid is applied to the sole surface near such extremity, but as the'sole continues to advance, the lateral edges thereof Contact with the rolls 73 carried by the rods 65, 66, and by pressure thereagainst tend to swing said rods together with brackets 49, 50 about the pivot bolts 47, 48, thus causing a separation of the brushes. This movement is clearly indicated in Fig. 4. A

Owing to the great variation of the width of a sole fromvvits toe to its heel portion it Vhas been found desirable to niounttlie brushes not fonly to swingabout the pivot pins 17, 48,' but also to slide with relation to thebrackets'a), 50 in order that the plane of said brushes may be maintained as near in alinemeiit vwith tlie edge of the solev as Vpossible, but as at this time the sole is usually' in temper, that is to say, more or less moist and has very little transverse rigidity, the

chains 100 and 101 have been'providedwliich act immediately upon swinging. of the brackets i9, 50 about their pivots togpositively retract 'the rods 65, 66 lwithin their bearings, thereby movingthe brush wheelsy S9, QOYapart more rapidly than would be occasioned-merely by their swinging move- Y nient (see Fig.

As the sole is fed rearwardly Overthe brush `wheels,tlie `guide rolls 73 travel along the outer edge of fthe sole, and cause the peripheral Ysurfaces of the brush wheels which engage the lower surface vof the sole toV follow lines closely adjacent the edge thereof, thereby applying narrow strips or ribbons of color to thel surface ofthe sole following its contour. By reason of the independent mounting of the brush wheels,

said wheels are enabled to Vfollow. the oppo-V sitey edges Vof the sole, although said edges are `unsymmetrical- Y As the sole is advanced, the rolls 73 Ain passing into the shank portion 'may permit the brackets to return to their'initial position, the flexibility of *the chain members,

however, permitting the slide rods 65, 6G together with the brushes to remainl in par-,-

tially retracted position relatively to the brackets during this portion ofthe opera-v tion.'l VAs the sole further advances the y than thatof 'the feed wheels, it being found undesirable to rotate the brushesatas high 1 l a. speedasthat of the feed rolls, as to do so tends to cause a 'spattering of the iiuid. As Y the advancing end of the sole passes the brush` wheels, it isjdefiected downwardly by thebeveled extremities to the brackets 592i, 95, and is thereupon grasped by the operator who pulls the same rearwardly to cause the necessaryV feed movement thereof during the latter portion of the action of v thebrushes thereon, the feed rolls 2%','25 cease to feed the sole alongbefore the'entire length thereof has been subjected to the brushes. By Vreason of the adjustable mount-V `surface ofk a sole adjacent 'eral edges thereof.'

insee-,414i Y with Vmore or less pressure -in position for engagementwith 'the surface of the brush. While the above described mechanismis a preferred embodiment of the invention itis evident that various changesand modifications'thereof might be made without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention, and'it is contemplated that all such changes' and modifications may be made as will vfall within, the scope of the appended claims. A Having thus now describeda preferred embodiment of the invention and themode ofope'ration thereof, what I claim and'desire to `secure by'L'ettersl-'Patenti of the United States' is,- y 1 Y 1. In a machine of the class described,

means for feeding a shoe Vsole in asubstan` tially rectilinear path, a movable fluid-applying device, means normally Vacting to move said device towardsaid path and a member actuable in opposition to said-means whereby to causej 'said applying device to c follow the outer'contour'of the sole.

2. In a ,machinel of the class described,fa rotatable fluid-applying device, a movable support therefor, and a guide member con-V nected to said support' for contact with the' means for feeding forward a shoe sole, a

bodily movable, rotary 'fluid-applying de-V vice, andV guiding means ltherefor arrangedA to contact with the edge only yof a shoe Asole as it is fed'forward.

el. In a machinev of the` class described, means forfeeding a shoe sole in a substantially lrectilinear path', and a fluid-applying device rotatable in-a plane perpendicular to thesole surface and movable Vtoward Vand fromV said path, and means for guiding said device to follow the contour Vof the shoe sole.V

5. In a machine ofthe class described, a iiuid supply and a plurality of Huid-applying devices rotatable upon substantially horizontalk axesv and constructed and 'ai'- ranged to apply fluidV simultaneously to the the opposite Vlatt'. In a sole coloring machine, ai pair of pivotally mounted bracket membersa pair V`of rotary color-applying devices carried by the respective bracket-arms and normally adjacent onek another, and contact elements' carried by the respectiverbracket 'members' and arranged for engagementwith the Lopposite edges only of a shoe sole, whereby l 15,336,441*Vj movement of a sole betweensai'd elements acts t Swing the Vbracket members and 'o thereby separate said devices.

' with fluid, meansy for feeding a shoe sole over said brushes, and meansactuable toy 7; VIn aV sole coloring machine pairbf oppositely directed, movably vmounted sup.v

porting members, means acting normallyfto cause said members t'o approach one another, Y a' pair of color-applying devices mounted upon the respective members, the operativev lportions'of said devices'being normallyin alinement andl forming' in'effect single device, meansfor rotating said devices,'and' o a pair of guides operatively connected to the respective members and arranged foi engagement with the oppositeV edges of a shoe-sole upon` movement Of the' latfel' the/U57' between.

v8.".In a sole coloringrmachine, in com-VV bination, a pair of pivotally.V` mounted bracket members, a pair `V of rotatable shafts carried by the respective members, pairof color-applying' brushes fixed upon the `respective shafts, the operativeiportions of said brushes being normally vin. Valinement and forming in'eflect a single continuousA brush surface, means for constantly rotating saidl shafts, and a pair ofrv spaced apart contact-rolls carried by the respective mem-y bers and arranged for engagement with the edges-of a shoe sole, whereby movement ofr brushes. l v 9. ln machine of the Vclass described, a

a'sole between said rolls acts to separate the frame, a pair of bracket. members pivoted thereon to swing in the same plane, said members being Oppositely directed, resilient means normally holding said members alinement, a pair of shafts carried by the respective members, means for constantlyV` rotating said shafts, a pair of brush wheels fixed upon adjacent ends of the respective shafts, means for supplying said wheels vices for movement toward and. from one f another, means normally lmoving said devices 'toward oneV another, and means for* contact with the shoe sole during its feeding movement for separating said devices.

11. In a machine of the class described, in combination, means for feeding a shoe sole in a substantially rectilinear path, a' pivotally mounted bracket, a supporting member slidably carried by said bracket and movable in a direction normal to the path of the sole, andl a Huid-applying device mounted upon `said member.

"12.: 'In a machine of theclass described,

means for guidinga shoe solein a substan-V tially rectilinear path, a devicefor applying fluid'. to the surface ofa sole, said device being normally positioned adjacent said path, means for slidably-'and pivotally support-V ingxsaid device, means for engagement with Y shoe sole for swinging said device away from saidpath,rand'means -for insuring sliding movement of said device away from said path simultaneously with such swinging movement."

113,111 a machineof the class described means-for feeding a shoe sole in a substantiallyv rectilinear path, a pivotally kmounted bracket, a supporting Amember slidable thereon in a direction normal tosaid path, a

fluid-ao 3l fino' device carried b said member, means arranged for contact with theshoe sole upon .feeding 'movement' of thelatter-for swinging said bracket, and a device operatively connected` to vsaid supporting member and constructed to insure a sliding movement thereof with'respect to the bracket upon swinging of the latter.

14. Ina Huid-applying machine, inv combination, a pair of brackets pivotally mounted to swing in the same plane', and being 0p- 1 lpositely directed, normally alined supporting members slidably mounted: upon said brackets, ink-applying devices carried" upon adjacent extremities of said members, means normally positioning said'devices substantially in contact, a pair of roll-carryingmembers operatively connected tol the lrespective members and provided withguide'rolls arranged for contact' with the opposite edges of ashoe sole, means for feeding a solebeltween said rolls thereby acting to swing said brackets in opposite directions and a pair of flexible elements, whose opposite extremities are connected with a fixed portion of the frame and with the respective roll-carryingV members, respectively whereby upon swinging'of the latter the supporting members are slidably retracted. f Y

15. In a sole coloring machine, in combination, a frame member, a bracket pivoted thereto for oscillation about a substantially vertical axis, means for limiting such oscillation, a shaft journaled in said bracket and having its axis in a substantially horizontal plane, a color applyingrdevice mounted to rotate with said shaft, and means for cono stantly driving said shaft in all positions of vpivotal adjustment of the bracket.

Y. 16. In a sole'coloring machine, in combination, a frame member, a bracket pivoted thereto for oscillation about a substantially vertical axis, means for limiting such oscillation, a shaft journaled in said bracket, a.

color applying device fixed upon said shaft,

a .substantially horizontal drive shaft j ournaled in said frame and a universal joint connectiony between said shafts.

lfiIn a sole coloring machine, in combination, 'a support, a shaftjournaledfor rotation` and for axial Vsliding movement in said support, a colorapplyi-ng device fixed upon one extremity ofsa'id shaft, a drive shaft,

and lan vextensible connection between, said shafts. Y Y

Y 18. In va machine of the class described, a shaftmounted for simultaneous rotation and axial sliding movement, a color-applying den vice fast to the shaft, a drive element alined Y with said shaftand a collapsible connection;

s between said ,shaft and said element, said connection comprising a pair of disks fixed to saidshaft and the element respectively, a Y' seriesl of link members hingedly connected to eachV of said disks, and circumferentially spaced'aboutits periphery, the links ofthe respective seriesextending toward lone an-k other; and formingcomplemental pairs, and

Y pivotal connections between the opposed ex- I tremities of said pairs oflinks.

y rotary device and said feeding means at sub-1 19.` Ina machine for applying fluid to shoe` soles, a rotary fluid-applying device, means for feeding a vsole'into operative relation to saidmember,` and means for driving said stantially different relative peripheral velocities. Y v f',

20.V In la vsole coloring machine, in combination', sole feeding and Vsole vcontrolling means, 'a fluid-applying Ybrush rotatable in Va planeperpendicular to that of the sole surface, and means for rotating said brush in a direction'opposite to that ofA the a path of ftravel of the sole.

Y`21. In a sole coloringmachine, in combi-- nation, sole` feeding rolls, sole controlling,

means, a pair of fluid-applying brushes, the axes of saidrolls and brushes being n ormally substantially parallel, means for rotat ing said rolls, and means for rotating said brushes,'the directionof rotation of said brushes being opposite to that of the direction of work feed.

22. In a machine of the class described, inj combination, fluid-applying Vvmeans, means for feeding a shoe sole into Contact with said. applying means, and an adjustable, resili-f ently mounted plate arranged to contact withY the upper surface of theisole,fordirccting. the'soleinto close contact with the applyingV means during the lfeeding movement.l Y

23. In a solecoloring machine, 1n co1nb1 nation, a.l color-applying brush rotatableon ,a substantially'horizontal axis, means for feeding a solevinto Vtangential contact with the surface Vof the brush, and a plate contact-` n v ranged` above said table and resiliently pressed toward the same. Y

In testimony whereof, VI have signedmy name toy this s ecification.Y c

H RBERT RV-ESTOVER. i 

